Note: First off, thank you so much to those who read and commented on Reservations! Your feedback had been really encouraging. I didn't really plan on starting another story so soon, and a multi-chapter one at that, but fic bunnies love to play plus they bite really, really hard. This first chapter is mostly to set the context, so please do stick around for the subsequent drabbles/situations. Enjoy!

No Questions Asked

Prologue

"L-light?"

He got no response. Instead, a large duffel bag was shoved into his arms as Lightning walked into his house with a suitcase in tow.

"What's all this? What are you doing?"

Lightning gave him a small smile, which did nothing to ease the boy's confusion.

"So, where's my room?"

"Wha-?"

Lightning could care less about the jargon, the technicalities, and the fine print. Her mind contained one thing, and one thing only.

Hope.

A man in a suit showed up on her doorstep on Sunday afternoon, with a thick envelope containing details of the Estheim estate. It had everything that Hope's father left behind—the bank accounts, the properties, the land titles.

All these trivial things, Lightning mused, are all that's left for him.

"Ms. Farron, as for the provisions in Mr. Estheim's last will and testament," the lawyer started. "How do you intend to fulfill them?"

Her answer was straightforward enough. "I'll pack up and leave tonight."

The man gave her a steady gaze. "There's no rush, really. The state could keep temporary guardianship for the week until you sort out all your affairs in Bodhum."

"That won't do. It has to be tonight."

"In that case, I could send for a car to pick you up at 7."

"All right."

He stood up. "Are you sure that you don't want to stay for at least a couple more days?"

Lightning merely shook her head.

"Okay then. Thank you for your time, Ms. Farron. Call me if you need anything."

"Light, you really don't have to do this," Hope said weakly. He sat on his bed—well, hers now—and watched as his unexpected companion opened her suitcases and started claiming his space bit by bit with her possessions. "What were you thinking, just packing up and leaving like that? Your house is there, your sister's there, your job's there. Everything's there."

Lightning turned to look at Hope.

"But you're here."

She pointed this out like it was the simplest thing in the world. He didn't know how to respond to that. He laced and unlaced his fingers repeatedly as he sat in silence.

She went on, "Besides, I gave your father my word." Hope's eyes widened in surprise and looked at her quizically. Though her back was turned to him, Lightning sensed the unspoken question and obliged.

"He called me sometime after the whole l'Cie mess was sorted out. He wanted to be prepared for anything, so he asked me if, just in case, I could be your legal guardian until you turn 18. He said it'd be unlikely, but... you know how that turned out."

Hope was quiet for a long time. Just as Lightning stood up to move her suitcase to a corner, she felt his arms wrap around her waist as he hugged her from behind. His head rested against her shoulder. He tried to say something, anything, but nothing would come out.

But there was no need. Lightning felt his despair, his fear, his relief, his gratitude.